Bridging The Spring Break Hunger Gap In One Arlington School

March 15, 2011 - PRLog -- ARLINGTON, Texas – Spring break began Monday and, for children depending on school meals, it’s an uncertain time. Over 85% of students at Wimbish elementary qualify for free and reduced (price) meals and, for many, it is their main source of food. Last Friday, 39 children at Wimbish elementary received food from First United Methodist Church of Arlington (FUMC of Arlington) to help them make it through the week of spring break.

According to the “Share our Strength Report,” 86 percent of K-8 public school teachers nationwide say they frequently see children coming to school hungry. Nearly half of all students (over 157,000) in Tarrant County alone qualified for free and reduced (price) meals in 2008-09, according to the Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB).

Michelle Clark, missions and outreach coordinator at FUMC of Arlington, was alerted to this need and reached out to TAFB to find out how to help. FUMC of Arlington joined TAFB’s Backpack for Kids program, which provides backpacks and food for distribution to local schools. Clark then contacted Wimbish elementary to partner in this program.

FUMC of Arlington purchases non-perishable items from TAFB and volunteers meet weekly to pack backpacks for delivery each Friday morning. “It has definitely made a huge impact on the kids,” says Gerri Contreras, Wimbish’s family service representative “Kids look forward to coming on Fridays.”

The program has been so successful, Wimbish reached out to Clark to help students through spring break. Last Friday, Clark and several volunteers delivered food for 39 students, ensuring they would have enough for the week. “The kids rave about the program and the parents love it,” says FUMC of Arlington volunteer Kelley Arrendondo.

FUMC of Arlington provides backpack with food items weekly for students who are recommended for the program by teachers and counselors. A larger group of children are extended items over long school breaks such as winter break.

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Established in 1878, First United Methodist Church of Arlington is a historic church and vital part of Arlington. FUMC of Arlington has a congregation of approximately 5,000 members and reaches out to our community through our programs.